I have a group of databases I would like to backup regularly and send the sql backup as an email to the site owner.

The cron job I can set up. The email part I can do.

But does anyone know a simple way to ask a db in mysql to dump itself in a standard sql export format including db structure and records?

Thanks.

I use this class to dump MySQL dbs.

Nothing is straightforward, is it? You can execute the mysqlhotcopy command from the command line - although your user will need permission to use the exec() command from within PHP.

MySQL document on mysqlhotcopy is right here.

__________________
The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.

Thanks devolio, that looks just the job.

I have actually written a table dump now, no patience.

I will look at these options though for future ref.

Thanks I will have a good read through this.